HIGH winds and driving rain brought parts of Scotland to a standstill as one of the first storms of autumn took its toll.
Ferry services up and down the west coast were disrupted or cancelled as south-westerly gales and heavy rain moved in.
Bridges were also affected, with restrictions in place on Dornoch, Skye Friarton and Erskine. The Forth crossing was closed to high sided vehicles in both directions.
Drivers across the country were warned to take extra care, particularly in Dumfries and Galloway and the Strathclyde area.
Coastguards helped four people on a yacht after it went aground on rocks at an uninhabited island.
The crew of the Tangon raised the alarm when it hit Maiden island, near Oban.
A dive vessel from Oban's Puffin Dive Centre was first on the scene, closely followed by Oban RNLI lifeboat.
Caledonian MacBrayne cancelled its sailings from Oban to Coll and Tiree. Its flagship ferry, the Lord of the Isles, had to turn back as south-westerly winds, gusting over 50 knots, preventing her from making it to either island.
In Stornoway, a rib (rigid inflatable boat) broke her moorings and washed ashore.
Challenging conditions are set to continue today, with the Met Office issuing a yellow "Be Aware" weather warning for virtually the whole of Scotland, apart from Shetland.
A spokesman said: "Winds will tend to decrease through today as drier conditions arrive from the north-west but will strengthen again later across parts of Northern Ireland and southwest Scotland as heavy blustery showers arrive from the west."
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